Orthodontic brackets



July 10, 1962 M. WALLSHEIN 3,043,007

ORTHODONTIC BRACKETS Filed June 2, 1959 R66 FIG .7 FlG.8 FIGQ INVENTOR, MELVIN WALLSHElN ATTORNEY.

3,043,007 ORTHODONTIC BRACKETS Melvin Wallshein, 8645 Bay Parkway, Brooklyn, N.Y. Filed June 2, 1959, Ser. No. 817,537 3 Claims. (Cl. 32-14) The present invention relates to improvements in orthodontic brackets and the arch wires they support.

An object of this invention is to provide novel and improved constructions for orthodontic brackets of the type mentioned, on which the arch wire is easily mounted by lateral movement and then held in place against detachment from the bracket, aliording the arch wire freedom for lengthwise movement.

Another object thereof is to provide novel and improved orthodontic bracket constructions for supporting arch wires of difierent cross-sections respectively, and when such cross-section is non-circular, such brackets will hold the arch wire so that they can be torqued.

A further object thereof is to provide novel and improved orthodontic brackets and the arch wire they support, so that upon mounting said arch wire, said wire will be held against longitudinal movement as well as against detachment from the bracket, thereby eifecting anchorage of the arch wire, which is easily releasable as will be set forth.

Still another object of this invention is to provide novel and improved constructions for orthodontic brackets and the arch wires they support, which are easy to make and use, reasonably cheap, and eificient in carrying out the purposes for which they are designed as above described.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this disclosure proceeds.

For the practice of this invention, each bracket is on a band fitted tightly on and around a tooth and comprises a substantially horizontally positioned tubular element, lengthwise slitted for entrance of the arch wire by a lateral movement through the slip opening. To pass the brackets lips, the arch wire need open the lips somewhat so that it snaps into the bracket to be entered therein, whereupon said lips return to their original spaced relation. The width between the lips of said slit is slightly less than the diameter of round wires. The minor axis of oval wires and the smaller dimension of rectangular wires which are to be used with the bracket therefor. The bracket is of tubular stock which is of D-shaped cross-section, or at least the hole therethrough is the shape of the hole in a D-form. The slit for entrance of the arch wire is through'the curved wall of the bracket, in the preferred construction. In most embodiments, it is preferred that the slit shall be a bit below, or in any event, spaced from the upper corner of the D-form, a short distance. In such brackets, the arch wire is free for longitudinal movement. When it is desired that the arch wire shall be restrained from longitudinal movement when mounted, that portion thereof which lies through the bracket, is of reduced cross-section to provide a stop shoulder on the arch wire at each side end of the bracket it is on. In such instances, the width between the lips of the slit in the bracket is a bit less than such reduced portion of the arch wire. Such reduced cross-sectioned portion of the arch wire may be had by a notch across the wire or by an annular channel in said wire. This new arch wire may also be used with any existing bracket offering side ends for the mentioned shoulders which are provided in the arch wire.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side view of a patients upper teeth about which is an orthodontic arch wire shown 3,043,007 Patented July 10, 1952 '2 mounted on brackets in accordance with the teachings of this invention; each bracket being carried on a conventional band which tightly encircles a tooth. The arch wire used, is held by such bracket against longitudinal movement.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of one form of bracket taught herein, as included in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a fragment of the arch wire included in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged section taken at lines 4-4 in FIG. 1, showing an arch wire of elliptical cross-section, nearly completely entered into the bracket. That part of the wire which is through the bracket, is of half the cross-section of the wire stock.

FIG. 5 is a view like FIG. 4, showing the arch wire fully entered into the bracket, which required a snap action in forcing the wire between the lips of the slit across the bracket.

FIG. 6 is a view like FIG. 5 where the arch wire is of circularcross-section. Here, as in FIGS. 1 and 5, the arch wire is maintained against longitudinal movement.

FIGS. 79 are similar sections showing arch wires of difierent cross-sectional shapes mounted in the brackets respectively. In each instance, the arch wire here, is free for longitudinal movement in its bracket.

It is to be noted that. in relation to the FIG. 1, all the other views shown in the drawing are drawn to an enlarged scale.

In the drawing, the numeral 15 designates'generally a preferred form of bracket which may be carried on a tubular band 16 which serves to mount the bracket on a tooth '17. The tubular stock of this bracket is of D-shaped cross-section. Its straight back Wall is against the outer wall of the band 16; the axes of said com ponents 15, 16 being in substantially perpendicular relation, so that in use, the bracket is substantially horizontal lengthwise when the patients mouth is closed. The curved wall of the bracket has across it from end to end, an open lengthwise slit 18, thereby forming the lips 19', 20 between which an arch Wire must be moved laterally to enter the bracket 15. This slit is spaced a bit from the upper inner corner 21 of the bracket so that there is the lip edge 19 which must be clearedby any arch wire to be entered into said bracket. The material of the bracket has some resilient quality, so that forcing the arch wire 22, after it has been entered into the bracket to the extent shown in FIG. 4 and then forced further, it will snap into the bracket by flexing the lips 19, 20 causing a slight parting thereof, and after passing them, said lips will of course spring back to their initial spaced relation. This mounts the arch wire in the bracket and is held from dis-association by the lip edge 19' which bars its exit. In order to maintain the arch wire against longitudinal movement, it is provided with a reduced section in all of that portion thereof which is to be inside the bracket. This can be done by having the arch wire 22 flattened or notched as shown at 23 in FIG. 3, thereby providing shoulders 26, 27 which hold the bracket 15 between them.

When the portion of the arch wire within the bracket 15 is non-circular in cross-section and is restrained from axial rotary movement at some point by the flat wall 30 of the bracket 15, as in FIGS. 59, 10 and 12, it isevident that such arch wire is held by the bracket so that the dentist may torque the wire by a torsional twist which is frequently needed and desirable in the practice of orthodentia. To get the advantages offered by this invention, the dimensions and shape of the arch wire portion within the bracket, should be chosen to eiiect the snap action in its requirement to pass the lip edge 19, contact the back wall 30 and preferably fill as much as r 3 possible, the brackets interior, as shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 8-10. as shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 6, the arch Wire 32 is of round cross-section and reduced to a semi-circle indicated by the numeral 32', akin to the manner and so as to accomplish the function shown in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, the bracket 15 is used to mount arch wires of different cross-sectional shapes, and as to FIGS. 7 and 8, differently positioned. In each of said three uses, the arch Wire is free for longitudinal movement in the bracket 15. Essential however, is the snap action required to enter each Wire past the lip edge 19. I

This invention is capable of numerous forms and various applications Without departing from the essential features herein disclosed. It is therefore intended and to the specific description herein to indicate the scope of this invention.

a I claim: I

In FIGS. and 6, the arch Wire is notched entire length for admission of the arch Wire laterally l.'In an article for supporting an orthodontic arch stantially horizontal tubular element having a slit in its therethrough into the hole of said tubular element; the slit requiring its width to be increased by the passage of the Wire therethrough; said tubular element having resilient quality whereby on passage ofsaid wire through said slit, the Width of the slit will return to its normal dimension; the shape of the hole in the cross-section of said tube being that of the interior of a D-shape; said slit being relatively near one inside corner of said hole of the tube to form a hook at said corner and relatively distant from the other inside corner of the hole of the tube.

2. An article as defined in claim 1 wherein the tubular element is of D-shaped cross-section.

3. An article as defined inclaim 2, wherein the slit is spaced from the back Wall of the D-shape.

References Citedinthefile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS j Brusse Dec. 9, 1941 

